Structure-function Relationships in Uveitic Cystoid Macular Edema: Using En Face Optical Coherence Tomography to Predict Vision

Abstract

Purpose: To explore whether preserved retinal tissue on baseline en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) correlates with post-treatment visual acuity in patients with uveitis-associated cystoid macular edema (CME).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 25 eyes (23 patients) with uveitis and CME, with resolution of CME at post-treatment follow-up. Baseline en face OCT images were analyzed to determine the proportion of pixels representing preserved retinal tissue. Macular thickness and volume data were also analyzed.

Results: The proportion of preserved retinal tissue on baseline OCT strongly correlated with baseline visual acuity (r = 0.61, p = 0.0014), and correlated even better with vision after CME resolution (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001). Weak correlations were found between macular thickness and volume at baseline and post-treatment acuity (r = 0.38, p = 0.058 and r = 0.39, p = 0.055).

Conclusions: Preserved retinal tissue at baseline strongly correlates with post-treatment visual acuity in patients with uveitis-associated CME, and is a better predictor of future vision than macular thickness or volume.

• Cystoid macular edema
• image analysis
• optical coherence tomography
• retina
• uveitis

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Funding

This work was supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc., New York, NY.